MATRICARIA 433 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. After drying, the flower-heads are of a dull yellow or 

 yellowish-white color, about 10 mm. (% in.) broad, surrounded by a flattish, 

 imbricated involucre; this involucre is composed of oblong scales, having a 

 membranous, translucent margin; the receptacle is conical, internally hollow, 

 and bears a single row of about fifteen short, toothed, reflexed ray-florets, 

 and numerous tubular yellow disk-florets, without pappus; disagreeably 

 aromatic ; taste bitterish, aromatic. 



Powder. Greenish. Characteristic elements: The interesting microscopical 

 constituent for study is found in the pollen grains with three distinct pores; 

 seldom dispensed as powder. 



ADULTERATIONS. Anthemis arvensis and A. cotula. These have solid, chaffy 



receptacles. 

 CONSTITUENTS. Deep blue volatile oil, anthemic acid, anthemidin, and tannin. 



Ash, not more than 13 per cent. 



Preparation of Anthemic Acid. The concentrated infusion, made with water 

 acidulated with acetic acid, is precipitated with alcohol. The alcoholic residue, 

 after evaporation of the alcoholic solution, is treated with chloroform. The 

 precipitate produced by alcohol contains anthemidin. 



ACTION AND USES. Mild stimulant and tonic, in large doses emetic. 

 Dose: 15 to 60 gr. (i to 4 Gm.) in infusion. 



600. ANTHEMIS ANTHEMIS, U.S.P. VIII 



ROMAN CHAMOMILE. ENGLISH CHAMOMILE 



The dried flower-heads of Anthe'mis nobil'is Linne", collected from cultivated 



plants. 



SOURCE. Europe; cultivated in Germany, England (Mitcham Gardens), Surrey; 

 introduced in United States. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. There are two kinds of flower-heads, the single and the 

 double. The latter is developed by cultivation, the disk-florets being partly 

 or wholly converted into the white, strap-shaped, three-toothed ray-florets, 

 forming an almost spherical head, dull white when dry and about 20 mm. 

 ( in.) broad; it is the kind preferred, on account of its greater aromatic 

 properties, which reside in the rays, but as the conversion is more or less in- 

 complete, both kinds may be found intermingled in the commercial article. 

 It is stated, however, by some that the single flowers are more odoriferous and 

 yield a larger proportion of volatile oil; the double flowers, being more showy, 

 are preferred by the public. Involucre imbricate, the scales ovate-oblong, 

 with a scarious margin; receptacle solid, conical, chaffy; odor strong, agree- 

 able; taste aromatic and bitter. 



Powder. Straw color. Characteristic elements: Trichomes, glandular, single- 

 celled, thick- walled; pollen and stomata present. 



CONSTITUENTS. Volatile oil (Oleum Anthemidis, i per cent.), at first pale blue, be- 

 coming yellowish-brown on exposure; it is regarded as a mixture of hydro- 

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